Apparatus for clearing and texturing linear material

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for clearing and texturing linear material including a package of the linear material wound on a tube, means for drawing air into the tube at one end thereof, means for withdrawing linear material from the outer surface of the package over the end of the tube into which air is drawn and an air nozzle spaced from the package for directing a stream of air generally towards the end of the package from which the material is withdrawn. The linear material is advanced through the air nozzle against the stream of air to remove undesired material therefrom prior to being textured; separated undesired matter is moved with air drawn into the tube for accumulation.

United States Patent [191 Benson et a1.

[ APPARATUS FOR CLEARING AND TEXTURING LINEAR MATERIAL [75] Inventors:Gustav E. Benson, Edgewood;

Everett W. Taylor, Cumberland, both of R1.

[73] Assignee: Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, Toledo, Ohio [22]Filed: July 26, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 166,222

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 836,457, June 25,1969,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl 28/1.4, 28/72.l2, 57/56 [51] Int. Cl D02g 1/16 [58] Fieldof Search 28/1.3, 1.4, 59,

' 28/68, 72.11, 72.12; 57/34 B, 34.5, 56, 59, 62,157 P; 112/79 FF;242/147 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,302,790 1l/l942Modigliani 28/l.3 X 2,488,934 ll/l949 Rayburn 57/56 X 2,515,299 7/1950Foster et a1... 28/72.l2 X 2,646,944 7/1953 Heffelfinger 242/147 A UX2,800,780 7/1957 Chirington.... 57/59 X 2,866,424 12/1958 Masland 112/79FF UX 3,014,356 12/1961 Butler 57/34 B UX 3,095,343 6/1963 Berger28/72.12 X 3,116,589 1/1964 Edwards et a1. 28/72.l1 X

3,296,785 l/l967 Hardy 28/72.11 X 3,309,752 3/1967 Nuissl 28/1.33,448,500 6/1969 Benson 28/1.4 X 3,461,659 8/1969 Greason 57/623,474,613 10/1969 Joarder et a1... 28/1.3 X 3,482,387 12/1969 Slack57/34.5 X

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,070,264 2/1954 France 242/147 A1,441,868 5/1966 France 28/59 401,327 11/1933 Great Britain 28/59Primary ExaminerRobert R. Mackey Att0rney-Stae1in & Overman [57]ABSTRACT Apparatus for clearing and texturing linear material includinga package of the linear material wound on a tube, means for drawing airinto the tube at one end thereof, means for withdrawing linear materialfrom the outer surface of the package over the end of the tube intowhich air is drawn and an air nozzle spaced from the package fordirecting a stream of air generally towards the end of the package fromwhich the material is withdrawn. The linear material is advanced throughthe air nozzle against the stream of air to remove undesired materialtherefrom prior to being textured; separated undesired matter is movedwith air drawn into the tube for accumulation.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures United States Patent 1 1 9 5 Benson et al.Get. 9, 1973 PATENTED 9W5 3,763.526

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR CLEARING AND TEXTURINGLINEAR MATERIAL This is a division of application Ser. No. 836,457,filed June 25, 1969 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One may withdraw untwisted linear materialfrom a wound package by over end removal or by rolling of the materialfrom the package.

Over end removal of untwisted linear textile material from a woundpackage is often advantageous. The process of removing linear materialin such a manner from a wound package is simpler. Because the packagenormally remains stationary during removal of linear material, apparatusdoes not need to manage either a rotating package mass or variations inthe speed of the material leaving the package caused by package shape;both being inherent in rolling off. Then too, one may remove the linearmaterial from a wound package at higher speed.

Heretofore there has not been an effective way of processing untwistedmultifilament linear material such as glass strand removed over end froma wound package. Removing untwisted multifilament linear material overan end of a wound package breaks individual filaments as the linearmaterial leaves the package. These broken filaments tend to combine andform fuzz ringers or fuzz bugs on the linear material as it advancesthrough subsequent textile processing apparatus, e.g., guides, tensiondevices and yarn treating apparatus. All too frequently these fuzzringers impede the travel of the linear material through the processingapparatus to a point where forces along the material challenges thelinear material beyond its tensile strength and the material breaks.

Moreover, untwisted linear textile material does not process as easilyas twisted linear textile material. Processing is especially difficultin the case of glass strand, which upon removal from a forming packageis somewhat flattened in cross section and includes filaments heldtogether essentially only by the cohesive force of sizing material.Glass strands tend to walk across the peripheral surface of strandadvancing rolls and their filaments tend to separate. Walkingestablishes overlying strand paths or roll wrap, which breaks thestrand.

There is a particular need for an effective way for over end removal ofuntwisted multifilament linear material in texturing operations,especially in the texturing of multifilament glass strand. Until now thedisadvantages of over end removal outweighed its. advantages. Over endremoval of glass strands, as with other untwisted linear material,builds fuzz bugs from broken filaments. These fuzz bugs buildonindividual strands to the point where broken strands are excessive.Thus, texturing processes using untwisted multifilament linear materialheretofore have not been economically feasible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is an improvedmethod and apparatus for processing linear material.

Another object of the invention is a method of handling textile materialto facilitate its processing.

Another object of the invention is an improved method and apparatus forhandling untwisted linear material being removed over end from a woundpackage to facilitate its processing.

Yet another object of the invention is an improved method and apparatusfor processing untwisted multifilament linear material by advancing thematerial from a supply source into a fluid stream generally against thedirection of fluid flow to treat the material and remove undesiredmatter from the material with the removed undesired matter being movedfrom the region of the fluid stream to a remote location.

Still another object of the invention is an improved method andapparatus for handling multifilament untwisted linear material in aprocess for fluid texturing the material.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the invention ishereafter described in more detail with reference made to theaccompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of apparatusfor bulking untwisted multifilament material such as glass strand thathandles the material according to the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the supply package area of theapparatus shown in FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a modified supply package areafor use with apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of another means for supplying a stream ofair to advancing multifilament material, e.g., glass strand, accordingto the principles of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a modification to the apparatus of FIG. Iand shows a muffle furnace through which glass strand is passed prior toreceiving a liquid sizing treatment.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of another modification to the apparatus ofFIG. I and shows flame through which glass strand is advanced prior toreceiving a liquid sizing treatment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS While the apparatus and methodof this invention is advantageous in processing untwisted multifilamentlinear material such as continuous or discontinuous filament glassstrand, they may also find advantageous use in processing otheruntwisted multifilament linear material such as nylon, rayon, polyesteror other organic or inorganic compositions. Additionally, one may employthe apparatus and method of the invention in processing compositemultifilament linear material made of glass fibers and other fibers,e.g., resin fibers 'or polyethylene, tetrafluoroethylene, or possibly apolyamide. Also, one may at times find it advantageous to use theapparatus and method of the invention to process twisted linear textilematerial.

FIG. 1 shows apparatus for texturing multifilament linear material wherea continuous filament glass strand 10 leaves a supply package 12 woundon a tube 13 and receives a fluid handling treatment or processing priorto traveling through a fluid texturing zone. The fluid treatmentdisturbs the strands filaments to make the strand loosely integral androunder in cross section and removes undesired matter from the movingstrand.

As shown, an inclined platform 14 supports the supply package 12. Thestrand 10 leaves over the upper end of the supply package 12 and travelsinto a stream of air originating with means such as a fluid releasingstrand treating device 16, which is located in spaced relation above thesupply package 12. The strand l leaving the wound supply package 12rotates about the axis of the tube 13, e.g., balloons, between the zoneof strand departure on the package 12 and the fluid device 16. Dashedline 18 indicates ballooning. The device 16 issues a stream of fluid,e.g., air, from an outlet, denoted by reference numeral 15, into whichthe strand enters. Thus the strand 10 moves against the direction of airflow as it enters the fluid outlet of the strand treating device 16.

The support member or inclined plane 14 holds the package 12 and itstube 13 at an angle 0 from the vertical. The angle 0 is normally small,in the range of from 10 to 30. While it is possible to operate theapparatus holding the pack 12 in a vertical or horizontal disposition,the inclined position is preferred. The inclined package positionmaintains the package strand layers or convolutions in substantiallyfixed location on the tube 13 without withdrawal of strand convolutionswith the strand 10 as the apparatus withdraws it from the package 12.

A disc-like guide 20 resides across the upper end of the tube 13 overwhich the strand 10 leaves the package 12. The peripheral surface of theguide 20 provides a contact guide surface for the strand 10 as itballoons. Because the strand 10 is in contact with the peripheralsurface of the disc or circular guide 20, it possesses a smooth androunded peripheral surface. The disc 20 extends substantially normal tothe axis of the tube 13 and usually has a diameter substantially equalto the largest cross section of the package 12. One may employ otherguides providing a circular guide surface.

A fluid carrying means such as tube 22 extends axially of the woundsupply package 12 through the tube 13. The tube 22 pierces the guide 20and terminates at the end 24 adjacent to and above the discs majorsurface 26 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The remote end of the fluid carrying tube 22 communicates with a zone ofreduced fluid pressure. As shown in FIG. 1 the tube 22 connects to anair moving unit having a fan 27. As the blades 28 of the fan 27 rotate,the fan draws air in the region of the entrance end 24 of the tube 22into the unit 25. Located between the air entrance into the unit 25 andthe fan 27 is a screen 29 through which air flows. The screen 29functions as a collection zone and as shown, the screen 29 forms anelement of a drawer, which provides easy access to the screen forcleaning.

A platform 30 located in spaced relation above the supply package 12 andstrand treating device 16 supports a strand advancing arrangement 32including housing 34, a collection means 36 and a liquid sizingapplicator unit 38, which transfers liquid sizing to travelingmultifilament linear material after apparatus textures it and prior toits collection on the collection means 36.

Associated with the yarn advancing arrangement 32 is a fluid jet 40,which has an entrance 42 and an exit 44. A fluid supply line 45 connectsat a remote end with a source of fluid, e.g., air, under pressure andsupplies such fluid under pressure to the interior of the fluid jet 40.While the construction of operation of the fluid jet 40 is generallyknown in the prior art, it has been useful to use jets such as disclosedin U. S. Pat. No. 3,328,863 and U. S. Pat. No. 3,402,446. As the airunder pressure moves to escape from the exit 44 of the jet 40, itcreates a zone of fluid agitation that textures multifilament materialtraveling through it.

The strand advancing arrangement 32 includes a pair of spaced apartcooperating double diameter feed and takeout rolls 46 and 48 that mounton shafts 50 and 52 respectively. These shafts rotatably mount on thehousing 34. An electric motor 54 and a suitable drive arrangement rotatethe rollers 46 and 48 together in the same direction. As shown in FIG. 1the rollers move in a clockwise direction. Because it is important thatthe peripheral speed of each of the rollers 46 and 48 be the same atcorresponding points on their peripheral surfaces, the rollers arenormally identical in size. If the rollers are of different sizes, onemust modify the drive arrangement to provide the same peripheral speedfer each of the rollers.

Assuming that each of the rollers 46 and 48 have identical dimensions,each of these rollers includes a first cylinder section 56 having adiameter D and a second coaxially arranged cylinder section 58 having adiameter J, which is smaller in dimension than the diameter D. When thecylindrical section 56 of D diameter feeds the untextured strand 10 tothe entrance 42 of the fluid jet 40 and the cylindrical sections 58 of ddiameter withdraws the textured strand from the exit 44 of the fluid jet40, the rolls lead the strand 10 to the fluid jet 40 at a faster linearspeed than the textured or bulky strand withdrawn from the fluid jet 40.Thus, an amount of over feed is made to the jet 40 and the ratio of thediameters D/d determines the over feed.

With the strand advancing arrangement 32 located with the jet 40 asshown in FIG. 1, the feed and take-up rollers 46 and 48 advance thestrand 10 from its supply package 12 through the fluid releasing strandtreating device 16. The strand travels about and between the peripheralsurfaces of the larger and first cylindrical sections 56 on each of thefeed and take-up rollers 46 and 48 thence into the entrance 42 of thefluid jet 40. The second cylindrical sections 58 at each of the rollers46 and 48 withdraw the strand 10 from the exit 44 of the fluid jet 40 astextured strand 60. The apparatus locates the second cylindrical section58 of the roller 48 in relation to the outlet 44 of the fluid jet 40 soas to abruptly remove the textured strand 60 in a lateral direction fromits path through the fluid jet 40. The strand winds around and betweenthe peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical sections 56 and 58 a numberof times sufficient to provide enough engagement with the surface toprevent slippage as the strand is being fed to and withdrawn from thefluid jet 40. In practice, it has been determined that approximatelyfour-six times around and between each of the paths of the cylindricalsections 56 and 58 is sufficient to prevent strand slipping. Because thestrand treating device 16 rounds the strand l0 and disturbs some of itsfilaments to interlock them and thereby loosely integrate the strand,the strand does not walk over the peripheral surfaces of the cylindricalsections 56 and 58.

Th application of sizing to the textured strand 60 may be desirable incertain instances to partially assist in holding the filaments of thetextured strand in place and further lock the filaments in theirrespective relationship with one another. Normally, it is desirable toemploy a fluid sizing applicator such as applicator 38. After thetextured strand 60 leaves the second section 58 of the feed and take-uproller 46, it advances downwardly across a sizing transfer roller 62 ofthe liquid sizing applicator 38. As the strand 60 travels across thesurface of the roller 62 some sizing material on the roller surfacetransfers to the moving textured strand 60.

In addition to the application of liquid sizing material to the texturedyarn 60 one may treat the textured strand 60 by passing it through azone of sufficient heat to fix individual filaments of the strand 60. Inthe case of glass strands one may use an elongated muffle furnace 61 asshown in FIG. 5 or open flame 63, from a nozzle 65 as shown in FIG. 6,having a sufficiently high temperature to set the individual filaments.This, of course, must be done prior to applying the liquid sizingmaterial, which one may add after heat setting.

From the applicator roller 62 the textured yarn 60 advances to thecollection means 36. As shown, the strand 60 moves from the roller 62downwardly to a yarn guide roller 64 that is rotatably mounted on thefree end of a pivotly mounted tension sensing arm 66. The tensionsensing arm 66 comprises part of the collection means 36, which, asillustrated in FIG. 1, is a constant tension take-up device.

Constant tension take-up devices, which are commercially available froma number of manufacturers, include'a tension sensing mechanism, such asthe tension arm 66, which, through electrical-mechanical controls varythe speed of the yarn package winding on a mandrel in accordance withthe variations in the tension of the linear material being wound. Asshown, the textured strand 60 advances from the guide roller 64 to bewound as a package 68 on a mandrel 70. An electric motor 71 drives themandrel. A strand traversing mechanism 72 reciprocates the texturedstrand 60 along the length of the package 68 as the strand 60 winds ontothe package.

While over end removal of the strand from the wound package 12 breaksfilaments in the strand, alignment of the outlet of the device 16 canreduce this filament breakage. The location of the device 16 controlsthe angle of strand removal from the package 12 and establishesballooning characteristics of the strand 10 on its travel from thepackage 12 to the device 16. The fluid outlet 15 of the device 16, whichin a sense functions as a guide eye or pigtail, should be in substantialalignment with the axis of the package 12 (tube 13) for satisfactoryballooning. If one locates the outlet laterally of such axis, thenatural strand ballooning path is distorted and the strand rubs againstthe package surface on the side of the package away from the lateraloffset of the outlet; such strand rubbing promotes broken filaments.

Further, the distance between the outlet 15 of the device 16 and thepackage 12 is important in reducing broken filaments during ballooningby establishing optimum ballooning conditions. The distance between thepackage 12 and the outlet 15 of the device 16 should be sufficientlyclose to provide a normal ballooning effect as indicated in the Figures.If the distance between the package 12 and the outlet of the device 16is too great, the advancing strand l0 establishes standing waves withnodes and antinodes. Such standing waves in the moving and ballooningstrand 10 are disruptive and promove broken filaments. If the package 12and the outlet 15 of the device 16 are too close, the strand 10 willballoon outwardly too much. The angle of strand removal from the package12 becomes too great and the result is greatly increased filament damageand breakage. A distance of from 6 to 7 inches from the end of thepackage 12 nearest the device M to the outlet of the device is normallysufficient to provide desirable ballooning for a package having adiameter of from 6.5 to 8 inches.

While the strand treating device 16 may be a simple fluid releasingdevide such as a tube having air under pressure supplied to it, it mayalso be more complex. It has been useful to employ a fluid jet such asthe fluid jet 40 as the device 16. Under such an arrangement it has beensuccessful to use an air pressure of from 40 to 60 psig with a linearspeed in the range of from 2,500 to 3,000 feet per minute supplied intothe strand entrance (fluid outlet) 15.

When the apparatus and method of the invention uses a fluid jet such asfluid jet 40 as the strand treating device 16, a strand enters the jet'sfluid outlet and exits the jet at what is normally the jets strand oryarn entrance.

As the apparatus in operation withdraws the strand 10 over end from itssource, the package 12, filaments break. The advancing strand l0 followsa given path, e.g., balloons outwardly of the entrance 24 of the tube22, and travels to the air outlet 15 of the device 16. The strand l0enters into the air stream moving through the device 16 from its airoutlet.

In operation the device 16 treats the strand 10 in several ways. Theforces of the air stream move in a direction opposing movement of thestrand, the energy of the impinging air removing undesired matter suchas broken filaments and directs the matter from the strand. Moreover,the air tends both to disturb some of the filaments to interlock orinterengage themselves and to make a normally somewhat flattened strandrounder in cross section. lnterengagement of the disturbed filamentsmakes a loosely united strand. Also,

because the air opposes the movement of the advancing strand I0, tensionis added to the strand between the device 16 and the strand advancingarrangement 32.

' The tube 22 provides a region of reduced fluid pressure that pulls airin the vicinity of the entrance of end 24 into the tube 22. The flow ofair into the end 24 of the tube 22 draws or sucks matter separated fromthe strand 10 by the air stream of the device 116 and released to theatmosphere. The matter travels into the tube 22 through the entrance 24and is carried by the air to the tubes remote end into the unit 25 forcollection on the screen 29. Air movement from the reduced pressure mustbe sufficiently strong to establish air flow conditions in the vicinityof the air outlet of the device 16 to control the matter yielded to theatmosphere by the air stream of the device 116 and have the air carrythe matter into the tube 22 for removal from the treating zone.

As indicated in the FIGS. 1 and 2, the strand 10 can move away from thedevice 16 to the strand advancing arrangement 32 along a path divergentfrom the longitudinal axis of the device 16.

After the strand 10 leaves the fluid treating devIce 16, it travels tothe texturing zone for bulking or texturing prior to collection in theform of the package 68 on the mandrel 70.

FIG. 3 illustrates another arrangement for handling linear textilematerial such as the glass strand 10 to facilitate further processing ofthe strand. As in the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the glassstrand 10 leaves the outer surface of the supply package 12, which iswound on the tube 13, and receives a fluid treatment or processing priorto traveling through a fluid texturing zone established by the fluidtexturing nozzle 40. In FIG. 3 the package 12 and tube 13 remaininclined at an angle from the vertical. The apparatus withdraws thestrand along a predetermined path from the outer surface of the package12 to means for supplying a stream of air such as the fluid strandtreating device 16, which is located in spaced relation at one end andabove the supply package 12. As the strand 10 leaves the package 12 overend, it rotates about the axis of the tube 13 as it unwinds from thepackage 12. As shown, the strand l0 balloons between the package 12 andthe fluid device 16 as it travels over the upper end of the package 12to the device 16. The dashed line 18 indicates ballooning.

The device 16 issues a stream of fluid, e.g., air, from the outlet intowhich the strand l0 enters. Thus, the stream of air moves in a directionopposing the movement of the strand 10 along its path.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 fixes a disc-like guide 120 across theend of the tube 13 nearest the fluid device 16 and over which the strand10 leaves the package 12. Its major surface 126, which is located awayfrom the package 12, is flush with the end 124 of the tube 13. Theperipheral surface of the guide 120 provides a circular guide surfacefor the advancing strand 10 as it balloons from the package 12 to thedevice 16. As with the guide 20 the guide 120 possesses a smooth androunded peripheral surface and extends substantially normal to the axisof the tube 13. The inside diameter of the guide 120 is equal to theoutside diameter of the tube 13, thus leaving the upper end of the tube13 unobstructed.

A flexible elongated tubular member 122 connects to the other end of thetube 13. A ball joint member 124 on the tubular member can connect to anappropriate support means. The remote end of the fluid carrying tube 122connects to a means for providing reduced air pressure such as the unitshown in FIG. 1.

Because the end 124 of the tube 13 is totally unobstructed, operation ofthe means for providing reduced pressure draws air through the tube 13.Air moving into the entrance end 124 of the tube 13 draws into the tubematter removed from the traveling strand 10 at the fluid treatment zoneof the device 16. Such matter collects on means such as screen 29 shownin FIG. 1.

While the outlet 15 of the device 16 is aligned with the axis of thetube 13 (package 12), the device 16 itself is inclined to the axis ofthe tube 13.

FIG. 4 illustrates another arrangement for handling linear material suchas the strand 10 to facilitate its further processing. As shown in FIG.4 the strand 10 advances from the package 12 to a pigtail 150 located inthe same location as the outlet 15 to the nozzle 16 in FIGS. 1 3. Ameans for supplying a fluid stream such as an air nozzle 1S2 blasts astream of air at the traveling strand 10 as it leaves the pigtail 150 onits way to a strand handling processing station, e.g., fluid texturing.The location and disposition of the nozzle 152 is such that the streamof air applies forces to the moving strand 10 in opposition to thestrands movement.

In operation the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 removes undesired matterfrom the traveling strand 10. The stream from the nozzle 152 yields theundesired matter to the atmosphere. As in the arrangements of FIGS. 1 3one may move the air in the vicinity of the stream to remove theundesired matter from the traveling strand l0, e.g., drawing the matterto a collection zone.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for processing glass strand comprising:

a tube;

a package of glass strand wound on the tube;

support means for holding the package and the tube stationary;

means for drawing air into the tube at one end;

a collection zone, the interior of the tube being in communication withthe collection zone;

an air nozzle spaced from the air entrance end of the tube;

means for supplying air under pressure to the nozzle,

air supplied to the nozzle being released as a stream from the nozzlesoutlet, the outlet of the nozzle generally facing towards the airentrance end of the tube and being in substantial alignment with theaxis of the tube;

means for advancing the strand through the nozzle from the outer surfaceof the package, the strand traveling over the end of the package atwhich the air extrance end of the tube is located to enter the nozzle atthe air outlet against the direction of air flow, the path of theadvancing strand about the air entrance end of the tube as it travels tothe nozzle outlet, undesired matter being removed from the travelingstrand as it advances through the air stream, the separated andundesired matter being drawn from the region of the outlet into the tubeat its air entrance end for accumulation at the collection zone;

a fluid texturing device;

means for supplying fluid under pressure to the texturing device;

means for advancing the strand from the nozzle through the fluidtexturing device to bulk the strand; and

means for collecting the bulked strand.

2. Apparatus for proceseing glass strand comprising:

a tube;

a package of glass strand wound on the tube;

support means for holding the package and the tube stationary;

a tubular member extending through the tube to terminate adjacent to oneend of the tube;

means for drawing air into the tubular member at one end; i a collectionzone, the interior of the tubular member being in communication with thecollection zone; an air nozzle spaced from the air entrance end of thetube;

means for supplying air under pressure to the nozzle,

air supplied to the nozzle being released as a stream from the nozzlesoutlet, the outlet of the nozzle generally facing towards the airentrance end of the tube and being in substantial alignment with theaxis of the tube;

means for advancing the strand through the nozzle from the outer surfaceof the package, the strand traveling over the end of the package atwhich the trance for accumulation at the collection zone;

a fluid texturing device;

means for supplying fluid under pressure to the texturing device;

means for advancing the strand from the nozzle through the fluidtexturing device to bulk the strand; and means for collecting the bulkedstrand.

1. Apparatus for processing glass strand comprising: a tube; a packageof glass strand wound on the tube; support means for holding the packageand the tube stationary; means for drawing air into the tube at one end;a collection zone, the interior of the tube being in communication withthe collection zone; an air nozzle spaced from the air entrance end ofthe tube; means for supplying air under pressure to the nozzle, airsupplied to the nozzle being released as a stream from the nozzle''soutlet, the outlet of the nozzle generally facing towards the airentrance end of the tube and being in substantial alignment with theaxis of the tube; means for advancing the strand through the nozzle fromthe outer surface of the package, the strand traveling over the end ofthe package at which the air entrance end of the tube is located toenter the nozzle at the air outlet against the direction of air flow,the path of the advancing strand about the air entrance end of the tubeas it travels to the nozzle outlet, undesired matter being removed fromthe traveling strand as it advances through the air stream, theseparated and undesired matter being drawn from the region of the outletinto the tube at its air entrance end for accumulation at the collectionzone; a fluid texturing device; means for supplying fluid under pressureto the texturing device; means for advancing the strand from the nozzlethrough the fluid texturing device to bulk the strand; and means forcollecting the bulked strand.
 2. Apparatus for proceseing glass strandcomprising: a tube; a package of glass strand wound on the tube; supportmeans for holding the package and the tube stationary; a tubular memberextending through the tube to terminate adjacent to one end of the tube;means for drawing air into the tubular member at one end; a collectionzone, the interior of the tubular member being in communication with thecollection zone; an air nozzle spaced from the air entrance end of thetube; means for supplying air under pressure to the nozzle, air suppliedto the nozzle being released as a stream from the nozzle''s outlet, theoutlet of the nozzle generally facing towards the air entrance end ofthe tube and being in substantial alignment with the axis of the tube;means for advancing the strand through the nozzle from the outer surfaceof the package, the strand traveling over the end of the package atwhich the air entrance end of the tubular member is located to enter thenozzle at the air outlet against the direction of air flow, the path ofthe advancing strand rotating about the air entrance end of the tube asit travels to the nozzle outlet, undesired matter being removed from thetraveling strand as it advances through the air stream, the separatedand undesired matter being drawn from the region of the outlet into thetubular member at its air entrance for accumulation at the collectionzone; a fluid texturing device; means for supplying fluid under pressureto the texturing device; means for advancing the strand from the nozzlethrough the fluid texturing device to bulk the strand; and means forcollecting the bulked strand.